The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-11-09
Carriers of Contagion-


healthy subject, has been known 10 i'm
part the infection TO the latter Whether
the poisonous matter be az animal virus
OF germ Of disease, bacillus, does not
matter and in this connection il Is well
10 speak Of other common methods Of
possible disease infection. A postage
stamp may in various ways convey con-
tagion. One of the simplest and most
plausible is that in which postage
stamp, partially attached to a letter to
pay return postage, is sent by person
infected with some disease 10 another
person. The disease is transferred. in
the inst place. to the adhesive stamp
through the saliva, and in being attach
ed to the letter By the receiver. the poi
son may be transmitted in turn through
the saliva.
Another cause may be the infection Of
the stamp with disease germs. The
stamp, having been exposed in a room
where a diseased person lies may be-
come slightly moistened and thus retain
the germ. That this is true can be prov
ed very simply by inicroscopical exam
ination. 1t is even possible that an act
i've and tangible poison, such a. arsenic,
may accidentally, or intentionally, be at
tached.
We often see person holding change
for a moment in the mouth, probably
not knowing that investigation mas shown
that disease germs can be carried by
money. If one could see through what
hands the money has passed, they would
hesitate before using such third hand.
Silver money IL as bad as paper money
but while many would hesitate to hold a
dirty bank note int their mouth, they
think that silver piece, because bright.
Il clean.
Cigars may convey contagion, especial
ly syphilis. We have seen note in
which physician gave as an excuse for
not loaning light to friend, that he
was afraid Of eontagion out if he was -
afraid he should have been consistent,
and refused to smoke the cigar Cigar
wrappers are in the cigar factories, espe-
eially in Cuba, moistened with the lips
and tongue, and the girls who roll the
wrappers are by no means Of the highest
reputation. Disease can be carried in
this way Tobacco, contrary to the COM
mon belief, does not destroy disease
germs. and smoking will not confer i'm
munity from eontagion.
Any one who uses towel in common
with the public, or piece Of soap, or
brush and comb, or any requisite of the
toilet, runs the risk of possible infection.
The subject of antisepsis. simply another
word for cleanliness, has not necessarily
brought to light many new facts. but has
set people to thinking of old ones. The
germ theory Of disease is to most people
very vague one. There is a general
idea that disease is carried bv germs.
and that the air j. filed with thess. and
IT is wonder to most people that every
one is not 20 afflicted, the laity concluded
that the germ theory Is an absurlity and
a contradiction. They do not consider
the element of fertile soil. The germ il
the same as seed, and all organic bod
les are reproduced by a seed. We must
plant seed in soil suitable for il, and
the surroundings-heat and moisture
must be adapted TO it if it is to grow. As
we descend in the scale Of organic life,
we find that some of the lower animals
can hardly be distinguished from plants.
and these are reproduced not by seed,
but by a process of division or budding.
4 part Of the animal IS divided and sepa-
rated, and forms a new animal
As We descend in the scale. We find
that instead Of seeds we have spores. a.
in ferns but these serve the purpose Of
seeds, and demand fertile soil before
they can grow. OF many million spores.
but one or two may serve their purpose
the rest die without giving any result
As We descend still lower we find that
fungi and moulds need not only a fertile
soil, but peculiar soil, and many Of
them will not grow except in or on an
other organic body.
In medicine, common example is the
ergOt of rye. Another is corn smut.
These, in addition to requiring peculiar
soil, undergo an alteration Of genera
ton" For example, corn smut is first
reproduced on the bar5erry leaf a. rust.
and this rust in turn produces corn smut.
The theory of disease germs Is founded
on the knowledge of the actions Of the
lower animals and plants. The bacillus
may be an animal OF il may be a plant,
poisonous in itself, or simply a carrier Of
contagion. 1t may even be a result Of
disease, and have nothing to do with its
cause except as foreign body. still. as
We find il present. and find il always
present, we are necessarily induced to be-
lieve that il is an active agent. but in or
der 70 reproduce itself If must have a fer
tile soil. This it finds, as rule, in per-
son whose constitution is run down from
overwOrk, lack Of rest. poor living. or
disease. II may be- introduced into the
system, or directly into the blood,
through an open wound. thus inducing
septicsemia, state of poisoned blood, or
it may be introduced indirectly into the
system through the alimentary system.
In this case it must be inhaled or eaten
with food. In either case it is absorbed,
or perhaps actively works itself through
the mucous membrane. Once in the
blood, the bacillus grows, as rule, by di-
vision, and multiplies TO an enormous
extent. Disease may also be carried by
u virus, which may in turn consist Of
bacilli or of organic pgtrefaetiye matter.
The common example Of this Is the Vi
rus of COW pox or of "a snake, an actual
poison
Either Of these factors NAV be present
on a piece of soap or money, or sOiled
towel, or a book that mas been in con-
slant use in fact. any article that has
been handled by number Of people
and We can perhaps realize how omni-
present disease germs are. when We con-
slider that washing our hands in anti